Footwear outsole construction

ABSTRACT

An outsole for a footwear construction to provide added softness in the heel strike area of a foot while providing added stability to the outer edge of the outsole, comprises: a top layer contoured to the shape of a foot, thereby providing cradle support to the foot; and, a lower layer having a bottom most layer with a heel portion so constructed as to achieve different degrees of softness, the heel portion including a wedge-shaped piece positioned on the heel portion, positioned over the heel strike area and being of a softer durometer value material and having an outer edge of a harder durometer value material thereby providing added stability to the footwear construction and avoiding lateral collapsing. The top layer and bottom layer are cemented together, encapsulating the wedge-shaped piece in the footwear construction between the top layer and bottom most layer to form a stable walking platform for the footwear construction. The wedge shaped piece is apertured vertically, the number and size of the apertures in the wedge-shaped piece being larger than those in the outer edge area. The apertures in the wedge-shaped piece outer edge may be moon-shaped. A sock may be provided to cover the top contoured layer for added cushioning for a foot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to footwear construction and, in particular tothe construction of a cushioning outsole for such footwear.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In most footwear construction, only the inside of the shoe is cushioned.Examples of same may be found in the following U.S. Patents or PublishedApplications: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,205,683; 6,519,874; 7,152,341; and,US2003/0061733.

Yet there have been some attempts that may be viewed as attempts atcushioning on the outside of the shoe. Examples of same may be found inthe following U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,942,679; 5,689,902; and, 6,050,001.

The present invention represents an improvement in the cushioning of theoutside of the shoe, a cushioning outsole so as to minimize the adverseeffects when the heel strikes a walking surface or ground.

SUMMARY

An object of the invention is to improve sole construction in footwearso as to improve the comfort of the wearer.

Another object is such a construction that is lightweight and shockabsorbent at the heel strike area.

Still another object is sole construction that is comfortable to thewearer These and other objects, features and advantages are accomplishedin accordance with the teachings of the present invention, oneillustrative embodiment of which comprises an outsole for a footwearconstruction to provide added softness in the heel strike area of a footwhile providing added stability to the outer edge of the outsole. Itcomprises: a top layer contoured to the shape of a foot, therebyproviding cradle support to the foot; and, a lower layer having a bottommost layer with a heel portion so constructed as to achieve differentdegrees of softness, the heel portion including a wedge-shaped piecepositioned on the heel portion, positioned over the heel strike area andbeing of a softer durometer value material, and having an outer edge ofa harder durometer value material, thereby providing added stability tothe footwear construction and avoiding lateral collapsing. The top layerand bottom layer are cemented together, encapsulating the wedge-shapedpiece in the footwear construction between the top layer and bottom mostlayer to form a stable walking platform for the footwear construction.

The wedge shaped piece is apertured vertically, the number and size ofthe apertures in the middle of the wedge-shaped piece being larger thanthose in the outer edge area. The apertures in the wedge-shaped pieceouter edge may be moon-shaped. A sock may be provided to cover the topcontoured layer for added cushioning for a foot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following detailed description and accompany drawing,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side exploded perspective view of the lower layer of thefootwear sole construction;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the top layer of the outsole; and,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the completed footwear outsoleconstruction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The heel strike area is the most drastic attack to the foot as you arewalking and this invention is concerned with attempting to bettercushion the foot as the heel strikes the walking surface.

Referring now to the three figures of the drawing, these generally showthe outsole of a shoe construction that, when combined with an upper,comprise the footwear. Referring in particular to FIG. 1, there is shownthe outsole lower layer 11 of the outsole 10 that includes a bottommost, wear resistant walking surface layer 12 and wedge-shaped piece 13.The footwear normally includes an interior shank (not shown). The bottomsurface of the layer 12 would be the surface that contacts the street,road or ground surface. It is typically made of a harder thermoplasticmaterial, rubber, leather, thermal plastic rubber (TPR), poly vinylchloride (PVC), polyurethane or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) andcombinations thereof The upper surface of the bottom layer 12 includes aheel portion 14 that includes a heel strike area 15.

The lower layer 11 further includes the wedge-shaped piece 13 to bepositioned on the heel strike area 15 of the outsole heel portion 14. Itmay be of the same material as the bottom most layer 12 (which alsoserves to protect wedge 13 from abrasion) but softer because of itsconstruction. The wedge-shaped piece 13 is apertured vertically, withthe apertures 17 in the central most portion of the wedge 13 beinglarger than those apertures 18 in the outer areas as you extendoutwardly from the central most area of the wedge-shaped piece 13.Typically, the apertures extend say 90% vertically through thewedge-shaped piece from the top down. Their length, depending on thesize of the outsole can be anywhere from eight millimeters to twocentimeters.

The apertures 17 are of circular cross section and of decreasingdiameter as you move outwardly from the central most portion of thewedge. The central most apertures 17 may be seven to eight millimetersand go down from there to say five millimeters. The material of thewedge 13 is of softer material than the bottom most layer 12 because ofits construction, and since you are walking on less material in thisarea, this gives you a bounce-back, cushioning effect to the heelportion of the foot.

The apertures 18 about the periphery of the wedge 13 may be moon-shaped,and are of smaller size, say seven to eight millimeters at theirgreatest length and half that dimension at their greatest width,resulting in a stiffer area about the periphery of the wedge than in itscentral portion, thus giving stability at the edges so, for example, theuser doesn't fall over. Stated another way, the wedge 13 is softer inthe center area due larger holes and firmer about the periphery becauseof smaller holes and more material The wedge-shaped piece may be made ofpoly-vinyl chloride (PVC), thermal plastic rubber (TPR), polyurethane orethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA).

The heel wedge-shaped piece 13 is attached to layer 12 by cementing.However, if both are of the same material, they could be moldedtogether.

In a typical embodiment, the durometer value of the heel portion is onthe order of 60, in the center of the wedge 13 on the order of 15 andabout the outer periphery of the wedge 13 on the order of 20.

FIG. 2 is the upper layer 20 of the outsole construction 10 and is thepart that is attached to the upper of the footwear construction, as bycementing or stitching to the insole. It is of, for example, alightweight, poly-urethane material or rubber, contoured at 21 to theshape of a user's foot for support, thereby providing cradle support tothe user's foot. The cradle so formed is adapted to receive and may becovered by a cushioned sock (not shown) shaped to the contours of thelayer 20. The sock would be a form of additional padding that wouldprovide further cushioning to the foot. It can be made of leather, microrubber or polyurethane.

FIG. 3 shows the completed footwear outsole construction 10. The lowerlayer 11 is cemented to the upper layer 20 encapsulating thewedge-shaped piece in the footwear construction between the top layer 20and bottom most layer 12 to form a stable walking platform. Lower layer11 and upper layer 20 are cemented together by using a heat activatedcement. The parts are cemented and allowed to dry. They are then heatactivated, pressed together and as the cement cools it forms the bond.The completed outsole typically is one quarter inch thick and extendsthe entire length of the footwear. The invention is useful with footwearsuch as a clog, dress shoe, walking shoe, sandal, boot, athletic shoethough not a performance athletic shoe and other forms of casualfootwear. The heel is cushioned during normal gait by added softness tothis area. The foot is supported by the cradle area 21 for stability

The heel 22 can be of various heights. But even as you go up in heelheight such as in women's shoes, the sole construction of the presentinvention is usable unlike prior art outsoles that were unstable due tosoft materials used in construction that would crunch and fall over.

It should be obvious that changes, additions and omissions may be madein the details and arrangement of parts without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

1. An outsole for a footwear construction to provide added softness inthe heel strike area of a foot while providing added stability to theouter edge of the outsole, comprising: a top layer; and, a lower layerhaving a bottom most layer with a heel portion so constructed as toachieve different degrees of softness, the heel portion including a heelstrike area, and, a wedge-shaped piece positioned on the heel strikearea, having a central area being of a softer durometer value material,and an outer edge of a harder durometer value material, therebyproviding added stability to the footwear construction and avoidinglateral collapsing; the top layer and bottom layer being cementedtogether, encapsulating the wedge-shaped piece on the heel strike areaof the footwear construction between the top layer and bottom most layerto form a stable walking platform for the footwear construction.
 2. Theoutsole of claim 1 wherein the wedge-shaped piece is aperturedvertically, the number and size of the apertures in the wedge-shapedpiece being larger than those in the outer edge area.
 3. The sole ofclaim 2 wherein the apertures in the wedge-shaped piece outer edge aremoon-shaped.
 4. The outsole of claim 2 wherein the apertures descendvertically mostly, but not completely, through the wedge-shaped piece.5. The outsole of claim 1 wherein the top layer is contoured to theshape of a foot, thereby providing cradle support to the foot.
 6. Theoutsole of claim 5 wherein the top layer is configured to receive ashank.
 7. The outsole of claim 5 wherein the top layer is configured toreceive a sock.
 8. The outsole of claim 1 wherein the durometer value ofthe wedge-shaped piece central area material is on the order of 15 andthe durometer value of the wedge-shaped piece outer edge material is onthe order of 20.